Runner-up of the Ho Chi Minh City World Cup billiards: Chiem Hong Thai is now a different person.

A CHALLENGING JOURNEY

Chiêm Hồng Thái started in the fourth qualifying round, in a group with Juan Jose Garcia (Colombia) and Orak Turgay (Türkiye). The Vietnamese representative had an unfavorable start, losing to the Colombian player. Facing a difficult situation, Hồng Thái showed his mettle in the decisive match against Orak Turgay, winning with a high scoring efficiency. Thanks to this, the 1999-born player narrowly advanced to the main draw (32 players) of the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup as one of the three best-performing second-placed players in his group.

By the round of 32, Hong Thai was in a very tough group, including former world number one Dick Jaspers (Netherlands) and the in-form South Korean player Kang Ja-in. Despite this, Hong Thai excelled in Group B, finishing in first place. Specifically, Hong Thai drew with Dick Jaspers in a match where the Vietnamese player reached 40 points first, and then defeated Kang Ja-in in the decisive match.

Runner-up of the Ho Chi Minh City World Cup billiards: Chiem Hong Thai is now a different person - Photo 1.

Chiêm Hồng Thái reached the World Cup billiards final for the first time and finished as runner-up.

PHOTO: QUOC KHANG

The knockout rounds were where Chiêm Hồng Thái truly shone. In all three matches from the round of 16 to the semi-finals, the Vietnamese player consistently started poorly, but then staged spectacular comebacks. In the round of 16, Hồng Thái defeated veteran Bao Phương Vinh with an incredibly tight game. In the quarter-final rematch against Dick Jaspers, Hồng Thái scored a series of 13 points to turn the tide. Facing veteran Eddy Merckx in the semi-finals, Hồng Thái was at times trailing significantly, 6-25 and then 12-31. But in the second half, the 27-year-old still worked wonders, fueled by the enthusiastic support of the home crowd. He rallied with two consecutive big series (10 and 14 points) to bring the match back under his control and once again dramatically reverse the situation.

Unfortunately, in the final, Chiêm Hồng Thái was unable to overcome the "mountain" that is Frederic Caudron. The Belgian billiards genius played so brilliantly, giving the Vietnamese representative no chance to resist. This is Caudron's first World Cup billiards title since his return to the UMB system in May 2024.

A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VERSION

Looking back at Chiêm Hồng Thái's entire journey at the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup, fans are amazed by his dramatic transformation. In the memories of many viewers, Hồng Thái was a player with a flamboyant and dedicated playing style, but often lacked the necessary composure at crucial moments and sometimes became impatient when the match got out of control. However, at the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City Billiards World Cup, the player from Can Tho showcased an upgraded version of himself.

In stalemate situations, amidst the suffocating noise and pressure from the stands or the seasoned experience of veteran players, Chiem Hong Thai overcame each challenge. His remarkable mental fortitude and maturity allowed the Vietnamese player to seize opportunities and explode at the right moment. He also frequently executed large series of points to turn the tide of the match during the tense final stages.

To date, the runner-up title at the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City World Cup billiards tournament is Chiêm Hồng Thái's best achievement in this competition. Prior to that, the 27-year-old player had twice finished in third place overall. This will be a great motivation for him to continue striving in the long road ahead.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/a-quan-world-cup-billiards-tphcm-chiem-hong-thai-nay-da-khac-18526052420290547.htm